In the first domestic final of the season, Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-0 at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol.
Lauren James capitalised on a major error from Dominique Janssen to give Chelsea the lead, one they never relinquished to grasp the Subway Women’s League Cup for the second year in a row. Manchester United had been playing in their first ever Women’s League Cup final and were looking to make history and join Chelsea and become just the fourth club to lift the trophy. On the other side of the pitch, Chelsea were playing in their seventh final in a row.
Chelsea came into the match as reigning champions having beaten Manchester City 2-1 last year at Pride Park. United and Chelsea had played each other in two domestic finals before, both in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and both resulting in Chelsea victory. Their most recent domestic final saw Chelsea enjoy a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Red Devils at Wembley last year where Sandy Baltimore was the standout performer.
The sides had played each other twice already this season with both encounters far closer than that FA Cup finale last May. A cagey 1-1 draw at Leigh Sports Village in October was followed by a 2-1 victory after extra time just last month for Chelsea at Kingsmeadow in the FA Cup.
Both sides won their semi final ties on the road to book their place at Ashton Gate. Marc Skinner masterminded a 1-0 victory over Arsenal while Sonia Bompastor overcame Andrée Jeglertz’s runaway WSL leaders Manchester City 1-0 at the Joie Stadium.
The Asia Cup took it’s toll on both sides starting line ups. Manchester United were missing just one player but an influential one in Hinata Miyazawa. Miyazawa had helped Japan to the semi final of the Cup as Japan beat the Philippines earlier on Sunday. The Japanese midfielder had featured in every minute of the WSL for Marc Skinner’s side prior to heading to Australia.
Skinner confirmed pre-match that Ella Toone was still unavailable due to injury. Fridolina Rolfö was fit enough to make the bench but Anna Sandberg was still absent through injury. Jayde Riviere, who was a doubt pre match started at full back facilitating Janssen’s move to centre back. Elisabeth Terland started in the 10 with Ellen Wangerheim leading the line, Millie Tuner dropped out of the starting side.
Chelsea were missing their Australian duo Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter after both helped Australia into the semi final of the Asia Cup, overcoming North Korea in the quarter final earlier this week. Chelsea were also missing captain Millie Bright and Mayra Ramirez who has suffered a setback in her recovery from a long term absence this week. Chelsea also confirmed this week that Guro Reiten would be joining Gotham FC, hence Reiten was not in the squad.
The Blues would welcome Kadeisha Buchanan back into their starting eleven for the first time since 2024 on Sunday. Nathalie Björn also returned to the match day squad starting from the bench. Sandy Baltimore also came into the side with Naomi Girma dropping out due to a knock. Veerle Buurman moved into left centre back with Lucy Bronze starting at right back in place of the absent Carpenter.
VAR was in full effect on Sunday for the first time this season in domestic competition in England. Perhaps it was fortuitous timing that this was also the first domestic final where fans could drink alcohol in the stands in the WSL’s fans choice pilot.
Ahead of kick-off, a minute’s silence was impeccably observed by both sets of fans in memory of Amelia Aplin and Amy Carr who both passed away this week. Both goalkeepers, Aplin was a youth player for Oxford United while Carr had retired after successful career having featured for England and Chelsea.
The Lineups
CHE: Hampton; Bronze, Buchanan, Buurman, Baltimore; Cuthbert, Walsh, Nüsken; Kaneryd, James, Thompson
MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Janssen, Le Tissier, Lundkvist; Zigiotti, Naalsund, Park; Malard, Wangerheim, Terland
The Action
A lively start to the action saw flashes of opportunity at both ends. Firstly, delicate interplay on the edge of the box almost saw Lauren James into the box in space but the visionary pass from Sjoeke Nüsken was marginally overhit. In response Manchester United steamed forward, Terland drove into space just outside the box and forced a smart stop from Hannah Hampton down low to her right.
Lauren James was next to threaten the United goal, cutting inside off the left, her ferocious drive flew over the bar. James would make a lasting mark on proceedings after a moment to forget for Janssen at the back for United. Brilliant closing down from the Chelsea number 10 forced the error from the Dutch centre back who scuffed the ball in the box. James stole possession and dribbled towards the six yard box, she fired past Phallon Tullis-Joyce and James cupped her ear to the silenced United faithful.
United took a moment to acclimatise to falling behind but just after the thirtieth minute Jess Park looked to seize the ascendency. Picking up the ball on the edge of the box Park let fly, seeing her effort whistle narrowly past the post. Shortly after a volley of Manchester United efforts from Melvine Malard and then Julia Zigiotti Olme were blocked by those in Chelsea blue. In the following phase of play, Terland stormed into the box selling a couple of Chelsea defenders a dummy to create space but her effort flew over the bar. Chelsea remained a threat and Erin Cuthbert blasted an effort wide from just outside the box as the peep from the half time whistle approached.
Nüsken turned provider shortly after, this time she set Alyssa Thompson clean through on goal. The American raced away from the Manchester United backline but the Chelsea forward pondered her finishing options a moment too long and Maya Le Tissier stormed back to dispossess her. The last action of the opening 45 minutes almost saw United level. After Wangerheim lofted the ball to the far post, Baltimore did well to quickly close down any space Malard could exploit. Malard did well to outfox her international team mate however to find the bye line and chip the ball into the box, Wangerheim connected but could only direct the ball wide of the near post.
United started the second half as they ended the first, on the front foot. Lisa Naalsund found space on the edge of the box but Hampton did well to parry an awkward effort. Chelsea had a couple of efforts of their own with Buchanan heading just wide on 60 minutes. Chelsea doubled their lead with just over 10 minutes remaining however, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd whipped a dangerous ball into the box. Chaos ensued before Beever-Jones toe poked the ball past Tullis-Joyce. James almost scored again after continuing to haunt the United backline, finding space in the box she forced Tullis-Joyce into a great stop.
Eight minutes of added time gave United hope, Skinner rolled the dice replacing defensive midfielder Zigiotti Olme with attacking midfielder Simi Awujo. Manchester United created a couple of half chances but failed to really threaten the Chelsea lead. Chelsea secured a comfortable win over Manchester United and with it the first silverware of the season.
Chelsea Player Ratings
GK: Hannah Hampton – 7.5/10 – Made an excellent early save inside the first couple of minutes to deny Terland. Made a number of fine stops to keep Chelsea in control, her distribution was not at its usual high standard.
RB: Lucy Bronze – 8/10 – Marshalled the defence well and made almost double the amount of passes into the final third as the next highest. Her long ball distribution was excellent.
RCB: Kadeisha Buchanan – 8/10 – The Canadian did exceptionally well within the first ten minutes to cover the run of Terland who had threatened in behind. Did not play like this was her first start since 2024.
LCB: Veerle Buurman – 8.5/10 – Made an excellent outstretched interception on the edge of the box in the first half as Park threatened to thread the needle. Nobody made more defensive contributions on either side.
LB: Sandy Baltimore – 7/10 – Had a couple of good deliveries but struggled to find space when coming forward.. Did a good job of preventing Malard from operating at her scintillating best.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 7.5/10 – The stand in captain for the day Cuthbert was the shepherd who ushered her flock to victory today.
CM: Keira Walsh – 7/10 – Kept things ticking in the middle of the park for Chelsea.
CAM: Sjoeke Nüsken – 8.5/10 – Seems to have finally earnt Bompastor’s favour starting again ahead of Wieke Kaptein. Nüsken was aggressive in pressing high to good effect playing on the front foot. Set up Thompson in the first half who really should have scored. Filled in at right back after Björn was forced off, she was everything Chelsea needed her to be.
RW: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 6.5/10 – Her final product was poor until she provided the excellent ball into the box for Beever-Jones to finish.
LW: Alyssa Thompson – 6/10 – Made an excellent run to find herself clean through on goal, was stopped by an excellent sliding challenge from Le Tissier. However Le Tissier should not have been given the chance to make the challenge. Came off at half time.
ST: Lauren James – 9/10 – Against her former club, James relished the challenge. Played with her tail up from minute one, so often lauded for technical ability it was her endeavour that ensured she opened the scoring. The best player on the pitch, she rarely graces a pitch that she isn’t.
SUBS
Aggie Beever-Jones (46′ Thompson) – 8/10 – Came on and did exactly what her manager wanted from her finding the back of the net.
Nathalie Björn (61′ Buchanan) – N/A – The Swede left the field in tears after a non contact injury meant she could not continue only minutes after coming on. Received a warm hug from her head coach before heading down the tunnel.
Wieke Kaptein (66′ Björn) – 6.5/10 – Did not have a huge impact on proceedings but helped see out the match for her side.
Lexi Potter (90′ James) – N/A –
Manchester United Player Ratings
GK: Phallon Tullis-Joyce – 6.5/10 – It was extremely difficult for Tullis-Joyce to stop the first goal with the odds stacked against her. Outside of that she was not hugely busy but made a great late save to deny James as second.
RB: Jayde Riviere – 7.5/10 – Did a good job stopping Sandy Baltimore on the left side when she steamed forward in attack.
RCB: Dominique Janssen – 5.5/10 – Janssen made a critical error to hand Chelsea the lead, that destroyed the game plan for Manchester United.
LCB: Maya Le Tissier – 8/10 – Made a goal saving challenge on Alyssa Thompson who lingered a moment too long when through on goal. Her long ball was positive.
LB: Hanna Lundkvist – 7/10 – Covered a lot of ground playing both left and right of a back four.
CM: Lisa Naalsund – 8/10 – Did well working as a spoiler in midfield her work off the ball was especially impressive. Won 7 duels and made five tackles, the most of anyone on the pitch, only level with her centre midfield partner.
CM: Julia Zigiotti Olme – 7.5/10 – The midfield pivot did well in the absence of Miyazawa but that was largely without the ball. They struggled to progress the ball forward when needed.
CAM: Elisabeth Terland – 7/10 – Had a positive early effort that was well saved by Hampton. She was less effective when playing in behind Schüller.
RW: Melvine Malard – 7.5/10 – Malard was a threat on the right side, she pushed Baltimore backwards but was sometimes hesitant to let fly. No player created more chances than Malard for United this afternoon.
LW: Jess Park – 7/10 – Park found plenty of space outside the Chelsea box but struggled to make anything meaningful come from it.
ST: Ellen Wangerheim – 7/10 – Should have equalised with the last kick of the first half, did well to meet the cross from Malard however.
SUBS
Lea Schüller (59′ Wangerheim) – 6/10 – Had only six touches after coming on the pitch before added time. That changed as she clearly benefited from the introduction of Awujo and Malard joining her in a front two for the final minutes.
Fridolina Rolfö (59′ Riviere) – 6.5/10 – Had a couple of neat touches but struggled to get into the game.
Simi Awujo – (87′ Zigiotti) – N/A – Perhaps would have been disappointed not to start after scoring against Chelsea last time out and certainly to only get three minutes on the pitch.
